CVE-2004-1563 in w-Agora
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in w-Agora 4.1.6a allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) thread parameter to download_thread.php, (2) loginuser parameter to login.php, or (3) userid parameter to forgot_password.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1563 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting w-Agora 4.1.6a, a web-based discussion forum application. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input parameters across three distinct script files, creating multiple attack vectors that could potentially allow remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw demonstrates a classic failure in input validation and output encoding practices that have been fundamental security principles since the early days of web application development.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through three specific parameters that fail to properly sanitize user input before processing. The thread parameter in download_thread.php, the loginuser parameter in login.php, and the userid parameter in forgot_password.php all accept user-supplied data without adequate validation or sanitization. When these parameters are processed and subsequently rendered in web pages, malicious scripts can be injected and executed in the browsers of unsuspecting users. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting, and represents one of the most common and dangerous web application security flaws identified in the OWASP Top Ten. The attack vector operates entirely through HTTP requests, requiring no special privileges or authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users have access to the vulnerable application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of the application, and redirection to malicious websites. Attackers can craft specially formatted URLs containing malicious script code that, when clicked by a victim, will execute in the victim's browser context. This creates a persistent threat where users who visit pages containing the malicious content become unwitting participants in the attack chain. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor security design principles, as it suggests that the application lacks proper input validation mechanisms and output encoding functions that are standard requirements for secure web application development. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 which covers "Phishing with Social Engineering" and T1059.007 which covers "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript", highlighting how this flaw enables both social engineering attacks and code execution.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding across all user-supplied parameters. The most effective remediation involves sanitizing all input data before processing and ensuring that any user-generated content is properly escaped when rendered in web pages. This can be achieved through the implementation of proper HTML entity encoding, the use of secure coding practices that validate input against known good patterns, and the deployment of web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the sources from which scripts can be executed within the application context. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. The vulnerability serves as a reminder that even simple input handling flaws can have significant security implications, reinforcing the importance of defense-in-depth approaches and adherence to secure coding standards as outlined in various industry frameworks including ISO 27001 and NIST cybersecurity guidelines.